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I am afraid there has yet to be a response to the letter sent on 26th June to LBRUT asking for action to return the Udney Park playing fields to community use, beyond a brief holding letter. I have updated the Foundation’s letter to include as signatories various individuals and local clubs who missed the deadline before the original letter was sent. All these additional endorsements are very much appreciated.
Under a Freedom of Information request I had been advised that not a single bidder had emerged that had gone as far as Pre-App. I am now told that this is not the case and apparently there is a bidder who has now taken this to the Pre-App stage. If this bid progresses then maybe there will be a new owner of the playing fields!
It would seem more likely that this bid will melt away faced with the huge planning restrictions, as indeed have all the other mooted offers over the last year or so. These restrictions are about to be added to as a ‘study of local views deserving of protection’ to be included in the new Local Plan, is to include Udney Park Playing Fields.
If this latest bid evaporates then the Foundation will hope to start talks in earnest with the landowners in mid-August, when the next ACV period begins.
Political momentum for a CPO growing
The Udney Park Trust have released a ‘press release’ updating everyone on the momentum gathering for a CPO of the fields at Udney Park. Local hustings were held as a prelude to this week’s general election and the Trust raised a question regarding the future of the site. It was confirmed at the hustings that there was universal support for a CPO from all parties.
The tragedy of the War Memorial Pavilion has been revealed by arial photos taken by residents. These reveal that under the ownership of Mr Wu the building has fallen into such disrepair as to render future renovation work hugely expensive. The project had been to bring the changing rooms back into early use for the community clubs playing on these fields. There were relatively new boilers and heating systems installed just before Imperial College sold the site. The building interior had been dry – even if the changing rooms needed to be brought up to modern standards.
It is hugely disappointing to report that Udney park is now under offer from another group of investors headed up by local resident, Keith Williams.
Udney Park is an Asset of Community Value, defined in the Localism Act (2011) as "Land is an asset of community value if its main use is to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community." The Localism Act states that ‘social interests’ include cultural, recreational and sporting interests
